Houzz Tour: Open Spaces and a Contemporary Indian Design
Elegant minimalism and Indian sensibilities combine in this serene farmhouse retreat in Ahmedabad
This weekend home on the outskirts of western Ahmedabad, India, is a serene haven replete with semiopen spaces, courtyards and a view of the outdoors. “The challenge was to respond to the architectural shell, continue and complement the architectural language and ensure that the clients’ diverse needs were taken care of,” Keyur Vadodaria says. He is one of the principals of Patel-Vadodaria Design Research Studio, which created the interiors of the idyllic farmhouse.
The homeowners wanted a flexible, clutter-free and low-maintenance space where three generations of the family could unwind, relax and entertain friends. The interior designers used colors and textures to create a home that’s elegant and minimalist, yet uniquely Indian in essence. Teak wood from the clients’ 70-year-old factory shed was used to custom-design the entire range of furniture in the home.
The homeowners wanted a flexible, clutter-free and low-maintenance space where three generations of the family could unwind, relax and entertain friends. The interior designers used colors and textures to create a home that’s elegant and minimalist, yet uniquely Indian in essence. Teak wood from the clients’ 70-year-old factory shed was used to custom-design the entire range of furniture in the home.
From the lounge, one enters the large, linear, open-plan common space that serves as the heart of the home. This living room area then opens to the dining and kitchen areas.
In response to the architectural design, PVDRS treated the common area as one large, barrier-free, unified space with a furniture layout that allowed for flexible arrangements depending on the activities of the residents.
“This is where one enjoys the rain in the monsoon and the sun in the winter and shade in summer,” design partner Megha Patel-Vadodaria says.
In response to the architectural design, PVDRS treated the common area as one large, barrier-free, unified space with a furniture layout that allowed for flexible arrangements depending on the activities of the residents.
“This is where one enjoys the rain in the monsoon and the sun in the winter and shade in summer,” design partner Megha Patel-Vadodaria says.
The interior design needed to complement the existing architectural materials used — exposed ceilings, wood-frame windows and stone flooring. The team selected furniture materials and upholstery that would accentuate those.
“Teak wood treated with linseed oil, painted steel frames and plain-colored upholstery were selected as the primary material palette to create an earthy, minimalist interior space which blends well with the architectural shell and its surroundings,” Vadodaria says.
At the far end of this space, the yellow wall of the open kitchen is visible. The wall is finished with crackled tiles and teak wood inserts in a honeycomb pattern — a reference to the natural surroundings of the house.
“Teak wood treated with linseed oil, painted steel frames and plain-colored upholstery were selected as the primary material palette to create an earthy, minimalist interior space which blends well with the architectural shell and its surroundings,” Vadodaria says.
At the far end of this space, the yellow wall of the open kitchen is visible. The wall is finished with crackled tiles and teak wood inserts in a honeycomb pattern — a reference to the natural surroundings of the house.
The dining area, located between the kitchen and living room, is furnished with a large table, benches and chairs, all made from teak wood and steel frames. Punctuations of color are added through soft linen and upholstery to contrast with the neutral surfaces and finishes.
The designers used teak from the shed and collaborated with master carpenters to carefully combine pieces of wood based on their size, grain and color.
Dining table and pendant light: PVDRS; browse dining room chairs
The designers used teak from the shed and collaborated with master carpenters to carefully combine pieces of wood based on their size, grain and color.
Dining table and pendant light: PVDRS; browse dining room chairs
Similar materials and aesthetic styles were used for all the elements in the home, so that they match and complement one another. “Our preference for customized interior design
extended to the design of pendant lights and door handles,” Patel-Vadodaria says.
The rectilinear form of the pendant above the dining table is meant to be a subtle reflection of the steel frame structures used in the furniture.
extended to the design of pendant lights and door handles,” Patel-Vadodaria says.
The rectilinear form of the pendant above the dining table is meant to be a subtle reflection of the steel frame structures used in the furniture.
Old wooden blocks used in fabric printing have been reused as door handles, a nod to the textile industry Ahmedabad is known for.
This powder room adjoining the dining and kitchen areas features a combination of wood finishes and black terrazzo tiles.
The closet handles are ergonomically designed bent metal plates that adhere to the minimalist ethos.
The left side of the entrance vestibule leads to a courtyard separating the two bedrooms, both styled in minimalist fashion with rough wood flooring and plastered walls.
The master bedroom features an elegant four-poster bed and opens to an outdoor seating area.
Ethnic touches are added through personal elements such as the antique chair, which was restored using a silk rope weaving technique.
“Overall, the interior design of the farmhouse reflects our approach toward creating a place that is on the one hand modern, elegant, clutter-free and attentive to detail, and on the other customized to reflect the identity of the users,” Vadodaria says.
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Ethnic touches are added through personal elements such as the antique chair, which was restored using a silk rope weaving technique.
“Overall, the interior design of the farmhouse reflects our approach toward creating a place that is on the one hand modern, elegant, clutter-free and attentive to detail, and on the other customized to reflect the identity of the users,” Vadodaria says.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
House at a Glance
Location: Ahmedabad, India
Size: 4,000 square feet (372 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designers: Keyur Vadodaria and Megha Patel-Vadodaria of Patel-Vadodaria Design Research Studio (PVDRS) (interior design) and Modo Designs (architecture)
One enters the home through a courtyard that is part of a vestibule separating the two primary areas of the house: the common space, which consists of the living room, dining room and kitchen, and the private space, which includes the bedrooms.
On one side is the semiopen lounge that opens into the garden area and also leads to the living, dining and kitchen areas. This space is minimally styled with a trio of paintings and a wooden chest. The upper half of a century-old copper pot sourced from the old city of Ahmedabad was cleverly used to fashion a pendant lamp, while the lower half has been converted into a tray for flowers and floating candles.